Horn Please

Husband and wife couple, Jessi and Jennifer Singh, left San Francisco for Victoria in search of a better work-life balance. San Fran’s loss is most definitely our gain and needless to say, we are simply thrilled about that. Initially settling and working in Kyneton, about eighteen months ago they moved to North Fitzroy and opened Horn Please. We have been regulars ever since.

Horn Please, named after the phrase commonly painted on trucks, buses and taxis in India, has a one-page menu which features a mix of Indian street food and traditional and contemporary curries. The focus is definitely on quality dishes rather than an endless list and words will not do the intense flavours any justice.

(An individual serve of the beef curry, $16)

(My curry platter from the Sunday night all-you-can-eat buffet)

Sunday night is Local’s Night – $25 for an all-you-can-eat curry buffet. It’s hard to find better value than that anywhere in Melbourne. Choices include butter chicken, rara pork, achari goat, lamb rogan josh and – my personal favourite – the Horn Please dahl with black lentils, ginger and garlic and cooked on the tandoor for up to 48 hours. All curries are served with cumin and lemon infused aged Basmati Sella rice and it is well worth ordering a basket of freshly baked naan bread on the side – plain, garlic & chive, or sesame & onion seed.

From the a la carte entrée menu, must-try dishes are the tandoor charred rainbow trout served with ginger honey sauce and slaw, and the Trentham potato, pea, pomegranate and green mango samosas. But the best is saved ‘till last – homemade Kulfi Indian ice cream in two flavours; cardamom, honey and pistachio, or cinnamon, clove and honey – $6 each. Oh so creamy and the ideal way to end a spice-laden meal.

(Cardamom, honey and pistachio Kulfi)

(Releasing a Kulfi from its mould)

The restaurant fit out is minimal but warm. Timber furniture and wooden floors provide a blank canvas for the splashes of colour, including beautifully coloured tiles, bright pink bar stools and best of all, the retro Indian family portraits that adorn the white walls. In the event you feel like a night in, takeaway is also available and can be ordered online.

(Inside Horn Please)

Horn Please is consistently good and has remained on our ‘favourites’ list since the first time we went there. Those living south of the river will be pleased to know that sister restaurant Babu Ji has recently opened on George Street, St Kilda. Babu Ji houses the same ‘Horn Please’ concept with a slightly different menu but no compromise on quality; (do try the Indian street snack Gol Gappa and the blue swimmer crab, beetroot and spinach croquettes!!).